Owner / Applicant Information

Joe

Montalone

Westfield Washington School Corporation

1143 EAST 181ST STREET

WESTFIELD

46074

Phone

3178678045

[email protected]

Submitter Information

David

Cook, RA

Ralph Gerdes Consultants, LLC

5510 South East Street

Indianapolis

Phone

3177873750

[email protected]

Designer Information

John E

Rigsbee, AIA

CSO Architects, Inc.

8831 Keystone Crossing Blvd

Indianapolis

Phone

3178487800

[email protected]

Project Information

Westfield Middle School Additions and Renovations

345 Hoover Street

Westfield

46074

County

HAMILTON

Project Type

New

Addition

Alteration

Existing

Change of Occupancy

Project Status

F=Filed U or Null=Unfiled

IDHS Issued Correction order?

Violation Issued by:

Local Building Official

Phone:

3175383012

Email:

[email protected]

Local Fire Official

3175383012

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

Variance Details

Code Name:

Other Code (Not in the list provided)

InBC - 2014 1016.2, Tbl 1016.2

Conditions:

After construction of a significant building addition to an existing middle school, some existing areas will have (may have had previously) travel distances exceeding 250 feet. Maximum travel distances will be approximately 280 feet from a Teacher's workroom (W106) with the remaining travel distances in the vicinity being less than 280 ft. Code limits the travel distance in a sprinklered E use group to 250 ft.

DEMONSTRATION THAT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE ARE PROTECTED:

1=Non-compliance with the rule will not be adverse to the public health, safety or w

2= Applicant will undertake alternative actions in lieu of compliance with the rule to ensure that granting of the variance will not be adverse to public health, safety, or welfare. Explain why alternative actions would be adequate (be specific).

Facts:

1. The entire school, new and existing, are protected with an automatic fire suppression system per NFPA 13
2.  An existing smoke detection system will be maintained in the corridors, and will be extended into the corridors of the new construction and the entire system will be connected into the fire alarm system.
3.  Previous Indiana Building Codes allowed up to a 100 ft increase in the travel distance (325 ft total) in sprinklered schools, when the increased distance was within a corridor.
4.  Similar variances for high schools have been approved:  Brownsburg HS 2017 Renovations and Additions (320 ft) (17-03-71) Center Grove HS Activity Center (300 ft) [16-07- 51], Zionsville HS (335 ft) [14-02-32(b)], Columbus North High School (310 ft) [09-09-20(b)], Brownsburg HS Classroom Addition & Preforming Arts (280 ft) [07-09-10]

DEMONSTRATION OF UNDUE HARDSHIP OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE:

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of physical limitations of the construction site or its utility services.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of major operational problems in the use of the building or structure.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of excessive costs of additional or altered construction elements.

Imposition of the rule would prevent the preservation of an architecturally or a historically significant part of the building or structure

Facts:

The owners undue hardship involves the cost and difficulty of adding onto existing large schools needing additional space with existing spaces already in the building. With a fully sprinklered building, smoke detection in corridors and a fire alarm system throughout the building, these situations do not decrease life safety warranting the construction of new horizontal exits.

Variance Details

Code Name:

Other Code (Not in the list provided)

InFPC 2014 Sec. 3311.2

Conditions:

Due to a significant building addition project and construction challenges at an existing middle school, some existing areas will have travel distance exceeding 250 feet. Maximum travel distance is approximately 309 feet from classroom (W204) and its restroom (W204A) with the remaining travel distances being less than 300 ft in surrounding areas. Code limits the travel distance in a sprinklered E use group to 250 ft. which must be maintained throughout construction.

DEMONSTRATION THAT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE ARE PROTECTED:

1=Non-compliance with the rule will not be adverse to the public health, safety or w

Facts:

1. The entire school, new and existing, are protected with an automatic fire suppression system per NFPA 13 which will remain in service occupied and functional school areas.
2.  An existing smoke detection system will be maintained in the corridors and will be connected into the fire alarm system.
3.  Previous Indiana Building Codes allowed up to a 100 ft increase in the travel distance (325 ft total) in sprinklered schools, when the increased distance was within a corridor.
4.  Additional temporary egress doors will be installed from the most challenging areas to provide more direct egress.
5.  Weekly staff coordination updates will augment a previously long established monthly tested evacuation system to assist students in these areas.
6.  The Westfield Fire Marshal, School Adm, Construction Management, and Architect have met, and as needed will continue to meet for adjustments of this plan, if needed.
7.  Condition will exist from approximately August 2018 till March 2019 (8 months)
8.  Egress capacities for the assembly space is  not affected, but will be maintained to the agreed upon occupant loads noted on plans.
9.  Similar variances for schools during construction have been needed, and were approved upon their own unique solutions:  Brownsburg HS 2017 Renovations and Addition (18-03-53)

DEMONSTRATION OF UNDUE HARDSHIP OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE:

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of physical limitations of the construction site or its utility services.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of major operational problems in the use of the building or structure.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of excessive costs of additional or altered construction elements.

Imposition of the rule would prevent the preservation of an architecturally or a historically significant part of the building or structure

Facts:

The owners undue hardship involves the cost and difficulty of adding onto an existing, and functioning, large middle school needing additional space. With a fully sprinklered building and a fire alarm system throughout the building, and an established fire drill program, this situation do not decrease life safety.